Aah, gentle and trusting reader, I betray you now, for purely selfish motive. The European Champions League final – the biggest game of the international season, with sentimental favorite Liverpool against powerhouse AC Milan the most intriguing matchup in several years – was played this afternoon; but I’ve taped it to watch later tonight, don’t want to know who won, and thus can scarcely impart that information here. So, you’re on your own: find out elsewhere, or, by the time you read this, check “Soccer Watch Online” for a game report.

After that, the focus turns to international play; England will play a couple of exhibition games Stateside, before World Cup qualifying begins again the weekend of June 4. The highlight: USA-England, this Saturday, May 28, 2pm, live on ESPN from Soldier Field in Chicago.

Hmmm, is there such a thing as a fraternal hat trick? Well, whatever you call it, the Austin Lightning got three goals from brothers Sonny and Guillermo Guadarrama to beat the Dallas Tornados last weekend, and move into a tie for third place in the PDL Mid-South Division. This weekend they host the New Orleans Shell Shockers, Friday, May 27, 7:30pm at Ellie Noack Field, 5300 Crainway, just east of 183 and Springdale. Visit www.uslsoccer.com or www.austinlightningsoccer.com for more info.

This article appears in May 27 • 2005.

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